Libraries and Collections
Home to the oldest freestanding college library in the U.S., our university libraries build on that tradition with special collections ranging from early medieval manuscripts to modern literature and politics.
Libraries
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Thomas Cooper Library
Thomas Cooper Library provides access to millions of research and teaching resources including book volumes, online journals and research databases, digitized collections, eBooks and streaming films. Librarians and other subject matter experts are available to assist students, faculty and staff identify and locate resources in-person during library hours and virtually through services including Live Chat and Book-A-Librarian.
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University of South Carolina Law Library
With more than 500,000 volumes, we are South Carolina's largest law library and one of the larger in the Southeast. You will be able to find answers to almost any question of law, regardless of its complexity. We serve our students and faculty as well as the larger university community and all South Carolinians.
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Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library
Hollings Library is home to three of our special collections: Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, South Carolina Political Collections, and Digital Collections. This state-of-the-art facility features rotating exhibits from the collections as well as a reading room, seminar rooms, and a large program space.
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Music Library
The Music Library’s collection of books, scores, print and electronic journals, audio and video recordings and special collections is one of the most comprehensive in the Southeast. Students, faculty and staff can check out circulating audio and video recordings or view and listen in the library.
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School of Medicine Library
Our library is your connection to more than 28,000 biomedical electronic journals, 400 electronic textbooks and 80 biomedical databases. Our print collection has more than 116,000 volumes. Most of our services and resources can be accessed through our website. We also are home for the Center for Disability Resources library collection.
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South Caroliniana Library
The oldest freestanding college library in the U.S., this library is the repository of the Palmetto State’s documented history and literature. With five major research divisions – published materials, manuscripts, university archives, oral history and visual materials – it is a vital resource for researchers from around the world.
Collections
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Digital Collections
Digital Collections scans rare, unique and fragile items held by University Libraries and publishes them online for access by researchers on campus and around the world. All items are described, many can be downloaded and all can be cited.
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Educational Film Collection
Educational Films provides access to licensed streaming films, an extensive collection of videotapes, 16 mm films and DVDs for classroom and educational uses. Staff assist students, faculty and staff in locating resources for a wide range of subject areas.
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Government Information and Maps
The Government Information and Maps Department is a regional depository library of Federal government publications as well as a depository of European Union publications. The department’s collections also include maps, atlases and the largest collection of South Carolina aerial photos available for research.
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Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections
The Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections is committed to preserving the materials in its collections and making them accessible to researchers on campus and globally. Many of the special collections are accessible online, from early medieval manuscripts and historical scientific works to modern literature.
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Moving Image Research Collections
Moving Image Research Collections’ holdings include the United States Marine Corps Film Repository, the Fox Movietone News Collection, local television news, home video collections, micro cinemagraphic nature films and documentary films. Thousands of films and collections are freely available and accessible online for viewing and research and instruction purposes.
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South Carolina Political Collections
South Carolina Political Collections supports the study of contemporary government and society by collecting and making available materials documenting South Carolina government and political activities at the local, state and national levels.